Category: AAP budget

The chief minister yet again hit the headlines with a fresh round of controversy, wherein he has allegedly reported to have used annual budget of Delhi campaigns for Goa and Punjab’s campaign. With 1.5 crore allotted as Delhi campaign budget already been used by Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party.

This won’t be the first time when Delhi’s self proclaimed messiah skinned of the hard-earned cash of Delhiites to further on splurge it on a nationwide advertisement blitzkrieg. The reports have given ammunition to opposition parties, questioning the working strategy of AAP. Some of them even calling it a “misuse of the money of honest tax-payers of Delhi”.

“While Delhiites are suffering for basic necessities like water and electricity, the party is using the public fund for its political gains in several states.”

The rebel MLA of AAP, Devendra Sherawat also commented on the controversy and said “The Delhi CM has not taken any department in the government. This means he is full-time indulged to do politics outside Delhi.”

Further Calling it “unacceptable” to use money of Delhi for party’s campaign, he said “Delhi CM is neither fulfilling requirements of Delhi, nor he is doing justice outside.”

Following the treading controversy there have been many roumors taking rounds of Aam Aadmi Party is in a major tax trouble. The Income Tax Department has found that the records, pertaining to the funds that the party claimed as donations on its website, that were submitted to the Election Commission do not match with the list put up on the party’s website.

To save face to say the least, the party has deleted the information from its website.

The ruling AAP government has exposed in Delhi as it failed to release the grant for the free study material and uniforms to 16 lakh students. As per the information, the students from class 1 to 8th studying in government are still awaiting for the grant to buy study material and uniform.

The students from class 1 to 8th get reimbursement for the study material and uniform. However, the new academic session has started but there is no news from the concerned department regarding the grant to be released.

AAP exposed on education in Delhi

During the second budget session, the deputy chief minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia had boasted that the government has raised the budget allocations for education. He had claimed that the quality of education would be improved this time by the ruling government. However, the ruling regime has completely failed to fulfil its words. As per the information, around 16 lakh students studying in Delhi government schools have been waiting for the grant to be released by the government.

A PIL was filed in Delhi High Court by a NGO, AAP insults the judiciary

The application filed by advocate Khagesh Jha on behalf of NGO, Justice for All, has sought directions to DoE to ensure the study material and uniform, both winter and summer are distributed by March 15. The NGO has contended that DoE presently pays Rs 500 — to children of classes 1 to 5 — and Rs 700 to children of classes 6 to 8 in government and MCD schools, towards reimbursement of cost of books and uniform.

However, actual expenditure on uniforms comes to Rs 2500 per child, it added.
The PIL by the NGO has sought grant of free books and uniform to EWS children admitted in private unaided schools.

However, the AAP has not followed the directions of the court and the session has started in schools. How the quality of education would be improved by the ruling AAP if the students would not get the books?

“Ahead of Delhi government’s budget presentation for the financial year 2015-16, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India slammed Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government in Delhi for non-utilisation of funds and instructed to present a present a ‘realistic’ budget.”

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has taken serious note of the Rs 6,093.85 crore, which was not spent and got lapsed in the Delhi budget for 2014-15. It must be noted here Delhi government utilised only 30% of the funds and now CAG has instructed the Delhi government to spend the allotted funds on the development works.

Shortfall in spending of planned funds

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia presented the CAG report in the Delhi Assembly. CAG made an observation that Delhi government should spend the entire budget amount within the financial year. It only shows ta reflection to the fact that the AAP government presented an “unrealistic” budget last time, which resulted in a record “shortfall” in spending of the planned funds.

Funds available for self-publicity but not for development works

AAP government in Delhi earmarked massive Rs 526 crores for advertising immediately after taking charge of the Delhi government. More than ten times higher than the previous financial year, it was even higher than the central government’s advertising budget.

Completely ignoring undertaking development projects in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government had put all the resources in running self-glorifying ads across the country.

The Delhi government has been making false claims of saving huge money in terms of expenditure on development projects but it is conveniently hiding the fact that two third of the annual development funds was unutilized in the National capital.

CAG directed to frame realistic budget as second time it’s even far away from reality

The maiden budget of AAP government has pointed out in the report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for its unrealistic budgetary provisions.

In 2015, the ruling government of AAP had presented the budget and the party boasted of its highest fund allocations in different sectors. However, the CAG in its report has stated that the ruling government did not utilise the funds allocated in the different spheres. Moreover, CAG pulled up AAP government for non-utilisation of funds.

CAG findings on AAP’s budget

CAG has recommended realistic budget estimates to avoid large savings and supplementary provisions and devise suitable mechanisms by finance department to avoid rush of expenditure in last quarter, month of the financial year.

Against a total provision of Rs 37,117.99 crore, an expenditure of Rs 31,024.14 crore was incurred which resulted in savings of Rs 6,093.85 crore and most of the savings were either due to non-finalisation of purchase proposals in time, receipt of less claim, procurement of less store items, non-filling up of vacant posts and non-payment of arears of pay and allowances, among others.

CAG: The second budget of AAP is far away from reality

The CAG report also mentioned that the second budget presented by AAP is far away from the reality. The ruling government has allocated the highest budgetary provisions and it would not be possible for AAP government to utilise the amount. Moreover, the CAG also pointed out the Delhi government to consider the document again as non-utilisation of funds is unethical.

AAP government did not utilise the funds properly, said CAG

As per the information, many important departments of Delhi government have not spent the proper funds of the total allocated funds. The Public Welfare departments of labour and civil supplies failed to spend up to 90 per cent of the allocated funds.

“Disillusioned voters of Delhi are already raising their voice of dissent against AAP government and now the traders of Delhi have joined the ranks of dissenters. Facing widespread protest from traders of Delhi, AAP government was forced to roll back its decision to introduce VAT on low cost textile and footwear.”

In the budget proposed for the financial year 2016-17, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Manish Sisodia announced to levy 5 per cent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on all textiles and footwear, including those under Rs 500. This decision raked up widespread protest from traders, as it would have severely affected their business especially those dealing in low cost products of below Rs 500.

Burden on ‘Aam Aadmi’

The proposed increased 5 percent VAT on footwear and textiles would have imposed a huge burden on the common man especially in the wake of VAT introduced on the low cost products. It must be noted here that the proposed move would have caused disparity between corresponding VAT rates in neighboring states and resulted in out flow of business to other states. This would caused heavily on the traders of Delhi and small time traders would have run out of business in wake of this draconian rule. This is when they rose up in arms against the proposed imposition of VAT and Delhi government was forced to roll it back.

This move has exposed the double standards of AAP government. While on hand they are opposing the central government’s proposed decision to hike 1% excise duty on gold jewelry. Also they are opposing the move of presenting PAN number on purchase of jewelry above Rs 50,000. This would bring transparency in high stake business and revenue thus generated could be utilised on development work. AAP is opposing this move tooth & nail which only proves the fact that they are only concerned about a coterie.

The installation of the 15 lakh CCTV cameras in Delhi for women security was the main agenda of AAP party and it was also mentioned in the party’s manifesto. However, the crazy Kejriwal’s regime failed to fulfil the promise as it is too much costly.

But now the ruling AAP government again proposed the installation of CCTVs in the classrooms of government schools. In the second budget, the Deputy of Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia made the announcement during his budget speech.

CCTV cameras in public schools will improve education, foolish Sisodia

The ruling government of AAP boasted that the government want to make the public schools better than private schools.

According to Sisodia, a budget Rs.100 crore has been allotted for the installation of CCTVs in each classroom of every school, Sisodia said. “We want to make public schools better than private schools,” he said

How come the move would enhance the level of education in government schools? The quality of education can be improved in Delhi only by filling the vacant posts of teachers in government schools. The government has preferred to spend Rs 100 crore on the installation of CCTV camera. It shows the craziness of Delhi CM and his deputy.

The government should fill the backlog of vacant seats of teachers in government schools instead of introducing such a foolish concept. The students need books, proper infrastructure and teachers.

Kejriwal had promised 15 lakh CCTV cameras but failed to do

In the party manifesto, the AAP supremo had promised to install 15 lakh CCTV cameras in Delhi but nothing has been done so far in this regard by AAP regime.

Kejriwal had said “Over 10-15 lakhCCTV cameras will be installed across Delhi.” The foolish politician had given his statement in haste without considering any logical fact. Even in the developed countries, no city has number of cameras which Kejriwal mentioned in his party manifesto.